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How do you keep up with the latest RAID technologies and trends?

RAID, or Redundant Array of Independent Disks, is a way of combining multiple disks into a single logical unit that can improve performance, reliability, or both. But not all RAID systems are created equal. Depending on your needs and budget, you may want to choose between different types of RAID controllers and software. In this article, we will compare some of the most common RAID solutions and help you decide which one is right for you.

1 Hardware RAID

Hardware RAID is a type of RAID that uses a dedicated controller card or chip to manage the disk array. Hardware RAID offers several advantages, such as faster speed, lower CPU usage, and better compatibility with different operating systems and devices. However, hardware RAID also has some drawbacks, such as higher cost, lower flexibility, and potential vendor lock-in. Hardware RAID is best suited for high-performance applications that require consistent and reliable data access.

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Ian G Halderman

Multi-Disciplined IT Professional - “High Performer”
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I prefer Hands On if at all possible to experiment with RAID in my Home Lab setting, as in this way you can Make and Break RAID Array Setups without Risk, and excessive expense. In general RAID principles remain the same with inexpensive equipment , it's only Scale that changes in Industry. Hardware RAID is almost always preferred to Software RAID, and Used Equipment significantly reduces Costs being easily available if you look.

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Sassan Teymouri
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Hardware RAID is limited to be used for Parity generation and calculation. Essentially XOR function is the best to be implemented in hardware. The other fucntion that hardware RAID cnd do is mirroring with use of DMA engines.

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2 Software RAID

Software RAID is a type of RAID that uses the operating system or a third-party program to manage the disk array. Software RAID is cheaper and more flexible than hardware RAID, as it can use any disks and controllers that are supported by the software. Software RAID can also offer better portability and scalability, as it can be easily moved or expanded across different systems. However, software RAID also has some disadvantages, such as slower speed, higher CPU usage, and possible compatibility issues. Software RAID is best suited for low-cost or experimental applications that do not require maximum performance or reliability.

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Sassan Teymouri
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I don't belive software RAID is for low-cost applications. WIth multi-core processors, software RAID in most instances beats hardware RAID in speed. In HPC storage design, the software RAID is used exclusively now days. Intel/AMD CPUs have 8-cores and with large cache available that makes the software RAID to be as good if not better than hardware RAID.

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3 Hybrid RAID

Hybrid RAID is a type of RAID that combines hardware and software components to achieve a balance between performance and cost. Hybrid RAID can use a simple hardware controller to handle the basic RAID functions, such as striping or mirroring, and then use software to add more features, such as parity or encryption. Hybrid RAID can offer some of the benefits of both hardware and software RAID, such as speed, flexibility, and security. However, hybrid RAID also has some challenges, such as complexity, compatibility, and maintenance. Hybrid RAID is best suited for medium-performance or mixed-use applications that require some customization and optimization.

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Sassan Teymouri
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Most high perfromance systems uses CPU's that have hardware XOR function for partiy generation and calculation. Copmbination of hardware RAID for low level RAID calculations and software RAID for high level such as rebuild, and storage expansion and managment function is the best way to design high performance storage.

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4 How to choose

When selecting the ideal RAID solution for your needs, there are several factors to consider, such as budget, performance requirements, data protection needs and technical skills. To narrow down your options, ask yourself questions like: how much money can you spend? How fast do you need your data to be read and written? How important is data reliability and availability? How much disk space do you need or have? How often do you need to change or upgrade your disks or controllers? How comfortable are you with configuring and managing your RAID system? Answering these questions can help you determine the best type of RAID controller and software for you. Additionally, online reviews, benchmarks, and forums can provide insight into different RAID products and other users’ experiences.

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Sassan Teymouri
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The question also should be RAID6 or RAID5 choices which reflects data reliability. RAID6 offers double parity ( Higher protection) and RAID5 is only single parity. So if two bits flip in RAID5 you can not catch it. But RAID6 will flag it as error.

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How do you keep up with the latest RAID technologies and trends?

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1 Hardware RAID

2 Software RAID

3 Hybrid RAID

4 How to choose

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